The waves hit the rocks one after another, causing countless waves to fall in colorful colors.

Sevastopol, this is the name given by the Russians. People in the Ottoman Empire prefer to call this place Kaffa!

In the last war, the Sultan of Constantinople was defeated. The cruelty of the Russian army and the tragic defeat caused the Ottoman Empire to lose Kaffa, known as the Pearl of the Black Sea.

Sevastopol has evolved over the years into a fortress city, with a large number of fortresses, trenches and a deliberately maze of tunnels surrounding the city.

The port is composed of nine ice-free natural harbors. In addition to docking merchant ships, there are also three ironclads built by the Nikolayev Shipyard over the past few years.

These three ironclad ships can be said to be the pride of the Russian Navy. With these three ironclad ships, the Russian Empire has the qualification to sit alongside countries such as Britain, France, and Prussia.

In Russia, it is known as South Nikolayev and North Petersburg. These two places are the shipbuilding centers of the empire, but because Petersburg is close to Europe, many people come here for sightseeing every year, and there are even sightseeing airships in the sky from time to time.

Drifting past, you can see the whole harbor area at a glance. It is not easy to keep secret.

The Nikolayev Shipyard, which is located in a remote area, does not have this worry. Building ironclads here can avoid the prying eyes of foreign spies to the greatest extent.

The sun rose slowly from the sea as usual. The fiery red light shone in the bay, as if the entire bay was burning.

The Russian fishermen who got up early began to prepare their fishing gear and prepare for today's work. The Black Sea is really a natural fishing ground, especially during this season, sturgeon can be caught.

The roe of this fish, known as the Pearl of the Black Sea, is sold by airship to Petersburg, Moscow or Western Europe to be compared with gold.

The most important fishing season of the year is these days. Seventy percent of the annual income depends on these days.

"Hey! Brozhnev, why don't you get up, you lazy idiot? The sturgeons are almost gone!"

"It's coming! It's coming, Dzerzhinsky, you old drunkard, you actually got up earlier than me."

Two hungover drunkards, smelling of alcohol from the night before, came to the deck to organize their fishing gear and prepare to leave the port. Suddenly, Porozhnev pointed in the distance and shouted in horror, "What is that?"

Under the fiery red sunlight, three battleships as tall as mountains appeared in sight along with a large group of armored ships. Thick plumes of smoke reached straight into the sky. Looking at the thick muzzles, the two of them could hardly breathe.

Before the two of them could scream in surprise, the alarm bells were ringing continuously. Many of the soldiers in the seaside military camp were shirtless and ran to the ship, and some went straight to the fort.

That devilish fleet didn't give them any chance.

The mountain-like battleship flashed with flames, and the citizens of Sevastopol heard the roar of death.

The Changbaishan battleship's 460mm three-gun cannon hit the ironclad Kutuzov in the first round of bombardment. The battleship, named after Field Marshal Kutuzov, was almost directly bombarded into parts.

The huge explosion directly broke the battleship into two pieces, and countless pieces of flying steel flew in all directions, falling on the sea hundreds of meters away and causing splashes of water.

The Ming warships approaching under the cover of night formed a long snake formation and fired continuously at the port.

The main target of the three Shanzi-class battleships was the ironclads in the port. But the Russians parked the three ironclads together!

The distance was too close, and with just two salvos, the three armored ships were turned into pieces in the sky-high fire.

The forts around the port were also bombarded mercilessly by the Ming fleet. Each cannonball, with a whistling sound, directly hit the turret made of huge rocks.

After a dull loud noise, the thick smoke dissipated and the turret dissipated with the wind.

In just a moment, Sevastopol really burned in the morning light. After the Ming fleet quickly bombarded valuable military targets, it immediately began to conduct indiscriminate and free bombardment of the entire city.

Anyway, just bomb wherever you like.

The soldiers in the military camp on the shore had just run into the bunker with their weapons. The shells from the large-caliber naval gun fell from the sky and slammed into the bunker.

After the violent explosion, there was a high temperature of up to 2,000 degrees. The soldiers were directly vaporized, and only one dent after another on the wall proved that they spent the last moments of their lives here.

The shelling lasted for a full hour. When the sun climbed into the sky, the citizens of Sevastopol could no longer see the sky. Thick smoke covered the sky, and there were burning flames and broken buildings everywhere.

The people on the street had gray heads and faces, and the sounds of crying and screaming were mixed together, often interrupted by explosions.

People without military training were running around in the streets together with rats. From time to time, stones would fall from the air and hit the crowd directly.

A cannonball accurately landed among a group of noisy people, and then there was a rain of blood in the sky. With the rain of blood, various human body parts fell from the sky. The one that hit the head might be a human hand, maybe

It would be a child's foot.

Those who were unlucky would be hit by a piece of intestine. Those who were even more unlucky would be smashed to death by a bare butt. People were tearing each other apart, howling and looking for a place to hide.

They don't understand how Sevastopol, which was peaceful and peaceful yesterday, has become a hell on earth today.

"Second Master! You brought all the battleships named Shan here just for this wretched place?" Chen Laohu felt that this was not killing a chicken with a knife, but using a cannon to blast mosquitoes. It was such a damn waste.

This time, not counting anything else, the ammunition alone would probably cost 200,000 to 300,000 silver coins.

"It's not interesting, stop shooting! Let's go back to Constantinople." Li Xiu also put down the telescope. Sevastopol is now covered with thick smoke. There is really nothing to see, and it is really nothing.

None can be seen.

The battleship Kunlun Mountain sounded a long whistle, and then took the lead in drawing a beautiful arc in the sea to return. Apart from leaving a white mark on the sea, the only thing left was Sevastopo, which was billowing with smoke in the distance.

Er Fortress.

"An ironclad ship actually appeared in the water bubble. This is a threat to the Ming Dynasty's navy. As long as it is a threat, it must be nipped in the bud. We don't care about Western Europe's affairs, that's because Western Europe has few resources.

But if they are allowed to occupy this place, it will threaten Constantinople and even our interests in the Middle East in the future.

Black oil is so important. From now on, our warships must also be powered by oil. That stuff is much better than coal."

"Jinzhou Shipyard is building a battleship that is powered by oil. I heard that the design specifications are much better than these ships we have."

"That is to say, the speed is faster, and the endurance is higher. The ship is cleaner! If you ask me, the coal is still reliable. Look at this boiler, there is no problem all year round."

The officers under his command were talking a lot, while Li Xiu just sat on the bridge and looked coldly at Sevastopol, which was burning in the distance.

Damn it, Dorgon and Jilharang actually went to follow the Russians. In just a few years, they have even built an ironclad. If they are allowed to develop for a few more years, there is no telling what they will build.

The Ming Empire did not have the ambition to occupy the world, but in order to solidify its rights and interests in the Middle East. The Eastern Mediterranean was still restricted by the Ming Navy, and no one could rule the roost in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Since the eldest brother wants to punish the Russians in Sevastopol, let's fight here. The vast Ukrainian plains are a suitable place for tanks and armored vehicles to gallop.

Li Xiu was thinking about something when suddenly there was a loud noise in the sky. Li Xiu watched as an airship exploded and burned, then fell into the sea.

"Send a ship to rescue people." Although he knew that the chance of saving people was not high, Li Xiu ordered two ironclad ships to rescue people. The entire fleet was waiting at sea!

"Damn it, why didn't the pre-war intelligence say they had anti-aircraft guns?"

"It's impossible to know everything about intelligence. This time we were careless. But it's okay. Now that we know that the Russians have anti-aircraft guns, there is no need to send airships for reconnaissance in the future. Even if they are sent, they will only be used by others."

Li Xiu sighed.

Without airship reconnaissance, whether it is school artillery shooting or battlefield reconnaissance, it will be a big trouble. Big brother is right, no matter what kind of blockade or confidentiality.

People's basic education is better than that of Ming Dynasty. As long as they try to get some samples or even just know the direction of research, they will soon be able to catch up with Ming Dynasty.

Looking back at the Ming Dynasty, these places were very poorly done. Ten years ago, most young men in the Ming Dynasty were still studying the eight-part essay. The Four Books and Five Classics were still their must-reads!

No matter whether it is the Four Books, Five Classics or the eight-part essay, it cannot build a strong ship or a sharp cannon. It cannot build an airship that can dominate the sky!

Just like smelting steel, a sample obtained last month was recently developed by Oxford University. Both yield strength and hardness are better than Daming Steel.

There is also information that a guy named Nobel from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has improved gunpowder. The gunpowder he developed is 30% more powerful than Ming Dynasty gunpowder.

As for other things, needless to say, the British even just researched the power plant based on the half-knowledge of the information they obtained in the Ming Dynasty.

I heard that electric lights have been installed in some areas of London!

The leading advantage is getting smaller and smaller, and Daming can only continue to research and develop at the front. Fortunately, it has the guiding light of its elder brother, otherwise Daming would not even know where the future development direction is.

But one thing is true. No matter what happens, this world is a world of money. As long as you have money, you can move around in this world.

I always hear that some people want to smuggle themselves to China. Why don’t people from the Ming Dynasty want to smuggle themselves abroad? It’s not that the Ming Dynasty is relatively wealthy. People go to higher places and water flows to lower places. It’s always right no matter what.

"Commander, call from Huiyuan. The airship hit the water and sank. There are no survivors."

"Okay, withdraw to Constantinople and dock." Li Xiu sighed helplessly and ordered the fleet to return. This operation is to destroy the weak Russian navy and any counterattack ability in the Black Sea.

The current Russian navy can only rely on sampans to go to sea. As long as the Ming Dynasty keeps two ironclad ships here, it can easily handle everything.

The slipway of the Nikolayev Shipyard has been bombarded to pieces by the battleship's 460mm artillery. The entire factory is burning, and explosions can be heard from time to time.

An hour after the battleship returned, billowing smoke could still be seen in the distance.

The Nikolaev Shipyard was destroyed, and more than half of the fragile shipbuilding capabilities of the Russian Navy were eliminated. If the Russians want to continue building ironclads, they can only rely on the Petersburg shipyard.

However, so far, the Petersburg Shipyard does not have the ability to build ironclads.

The fleet returned to Constantinople, and the new Sultan Ahmed came to the port to greet him in person.

"Congratulations to your Excellency, Commander. I heard that your fleet completely destroyed Sevastopol. As the most loyal subject of the Ming Empire, Ahmed thanks you for taking a breath of bad breath out of the Ottoman Empire. The entire Ottoman Empire will be grateful to you.

"Yes." When Ahmed saw Li Xiu, he immediately bent down and saluted.

"Ahmad, organize your army. The Ming Dynasty's weapons to support you have been shipped. After two months of training, you must attack the Russians. This time, our Ming Dynasty will help you seize control of Crimea.

.

If you can't do it, I don't mind letting the Kurds do these things. You know, the Kurds have always wanted to establish an independent country. If they establish a country, Constantinople would be a good capital." Li Xiu had no idea at all.

To save face for Ahmed, make it clear when he comes up.

With these people, Li Xiu thinks it's better to be straightforward. If you play tricks or tactics with them, you will lose. They will use some deceitful tricks to drag you into the field that they are good at.

Whatever you want them to do and what means you need to use to force them, just say it outright. The smart Ahmed knows how to do it.

"Oh! My great commander, how could your servant Ahmed let you down? For this revenge, the Ottoman Empire has mobilized 200,000 troops.

The follow-up army is still being recruited, so please rest assured. Under the true God's shining, every bearded citizen of the True God will shed the last drop of blood to retake Crimea.

People of the true God, do you want to take back the homeland of your ancestors and let the glory of the true God continue to shine in Crimea and onwards?" Ahmed is very good at inspiring people. The first few words he said were directed at Li

Don't say that.

What he said next was said loudly to the person behind him!

Crimea was originally the territory of the Ottoman Empire. It lost control of Crimea because of the failure of the last war. As a result, the Ottoman Empire, which was severely weakened, even its capital Constantinople was captured by the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty returned Constantinople, and now they had the opportunity to take Crimea back as well. These Ottomans immediately went crazy.

"Defeat the Russians!"

“Fight away the Russians!”
Chapter completed!